A senior nurse at Tonga's Vaiola Hospital says the psychiatric ward is overcrowded and there aren't enough staff.
Penisimani Moli told Radio and Television Tonga there are 45 patients in the 20 bed ward and many are sleeping on the floor.
He also says three nurses per eight hour shift does not give staff enough time to talk to patients.
He says most of the patients are there because they have been rejected by the community.
He says they end up seeking shelter in the psychiatric ward and living there for good.
The head of the psychiatric ward Mapa Puloka says the government has approved funding for another dormitory to accommodate the patients although there is no money for the work to go ahead.
Photo: 123rf
